Deer in the Woods

There are five of them
perhaps six
there is always this unseen factor
when observing deer in the woods.
The trees are uncountable
have never been counted,
have never been observed as a number
only a plurality
but because the deer move
between the trees
and because the trees
make that movement their secret
that unseen factor of their
ecological whole number
we count the deer.
It is important
It is not like I am a ranger
or game warden or conservationist.
I am just an observer
but numbers are important
especially from 1 to 10.
After that we lose focus;
what we watch, looks back at us
like a forest
or every blade of grass in a meadow.
The numbers are only coherent
because we are incoherent
and so it is important
to count small numbers when we can.
There are five known deer
maybe six
it is hard to be accurate
because they stay
moving through the trees.
The trees are numberless
and the deer
move in that numberless state.
In truth, I cannot say for sure
whether there were five or six.
There was a group
a movement weaving in and out
of the uncountable woods
and like any old time prophet
speaking of his revelations
I am incoherent
and have said nothing about the deer
their differences, their sameness,
but have only indicated that random factor
and wholeness
in the plurality of what can actually be
seen and comprehended
in numberless things.